Hammer Down Rodeo Company is hosting the first New Year’s Eve Steven Watson Memorial Ranch Rodeo beginning 1 p.m. Dec. 31 at the Curry County Events Center.

Hammer Down Rodeo Company owner Layton Belcher said he wanted to host a rodeo in honor of his friend, Steven Watson of Causey, who died earlier this year in a horse accident.

“He loved being a cowboy,” Belcher said. “He just really loved it. I think it would really mean a lot to him to have a rodeo in his honor. It means a lot to his family and it’s turning into a good thing.”

Belcher, who lives in the Dora and Causey area, said he decided to host a ranch rodeo because there is more interest in a ranch style rodeo in the area.

“There’s a lot more people in this part of the world that like the ranch rodeo thing,” he said. “It’s a lot easier for these guys to come and enter a ranch rodeo over a regular rodeo.”

Tickets are $15. Children 12 and under are free with paid adult. There is a $1 discount off ticket price for each canned food item donated with a five-can limit. The food collected will be donated the Food Bank of Eastern New Mexico.